Ore-concentrator.



PATENTED JANFQ, 1906.

G. M. WHITNEY.

ORE OONOENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1905.

2 SHEBTSSHIJET 1.

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INVENTOR eal'gelf Walt 716g ATTORNEYS WWII.

No. 809,765 PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906 G. M. WHITNEY.

ORE CONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1905.

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GEORGE M. WHITNEY, OF LAlVSON, COLORADO.

ORE-'CONCENTRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed May 20,1905. Serial No. 261,339.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. l/VIIITNEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lawson, in the county of Clear Creek and State of Colorado, have invented a new and Improved Ore-Concentrator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to ore-concentrators; and it consists, substantially, in the details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

The invention has reference more especially to that class of ore-concentrators in which an inclined reciprocatory bed or table is employed over which the pulverized quartz or sand containing mineral is sorted by gravity and discharged therefrom.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind in which the quartz may be subjected to such action as to liberate all the minerals without losing the fine particles of mineral known as slimes, thus making the separation complete at one operation and discharging the ore automatically.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the kind referred to which is simple in construction and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, besides being thoroughly ef fective and reliable for its purposes, easily and automatically controlled or regulated, and requiring but a minimum of power for the operation thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an oreconcentrating apparatus com prising but few parts or elements not liable to get out of order and one also which may be readily removed or transported from one place to another and having the capacity for long and repeated service.

The above and additional objects are attained by means substantially such as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an ore-concentrating apparatus embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation there of. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be stated that in the form of my improvements herein shown I employ a suitable supporting-frame for the several operative parts or elements of the apparatus, suspended in which is an inclined concentrating bed or table of special construction, combined with which are speeially-constructed outlets for the discharge of themineral portions of the quartz-rock or sand or the heavier mineral ore, as in the separation of lead and zinc or other minerals, said outlets having speciallyconstructed devices for opening and closing the same automatically to thereby regulate the discharge of mineral therefrom. Special means are also employed for suspending the bed or table within the supportingframe, together with special means for imparting to the bed a longitudinallyreciprocatory motion.

Reference being had to the drawings by the designating characters thereon, 1 represents a supporting-frame for the structure, the same comprising longitudinal base members 2, connecting which in any suitable'way are the transverse base members 3, while supported in any suitable manner from these base members are duplicate forward upright members 4 and duplicate rearward upright members 5, each pair of which is connected at the upper portions thereof by means of upper longitudinal members 6, as shown. Se-

' cured to the forward ends of the longitudinal base members 2 and extending transversely of the structure is what I term an abutment 7, while pivoted at 8 at the inner surfaces of the upper portions of the forward uprights 1 are the parallel terminals 9 of a bifurcated yoke 10, the rearward terminals 11 of'which are brought together, as indicated in Fig. 1, between which terminals, as at 12, is the forward end portion of a rearwardlyextending bar or plate 13, the rearward end portion of which is guided vertically in a vertical slot 14; of a centrally-disposed pendent plate 15, having a horizontal portion 16 secured to the upper surface of a rearward transverse frame member 17, which connects the upper ends of the rearward upright members 5 of the frame, already referred to, The said rearwardly-extending bar or plate 13 is provided with an adjustable weight 18, provided with a set-screw for retaining the same in any of its adjustments, and the forward extremities of the parallel-terminal portions 9 of the bifurcated yoke 10 have pivoted thereto at 19 the upper ends of links 20, the lower ends of which are pivoted at 21 to carried at near the forward short posts ends of the parallel side members 23 of the ore-concentrating bed or table 24, which is normally maintained at a forward and downward inclination by means of vertical parallel members 25, disposed on either side of the hereinbefore-mentioned plate 15, said mem bers being rigid with the horizontal portion 16 of said plate and also secured at 26 to the inner face of the upper transverse connecting member 17 of the supportingframe, the lower end portions thereof being secured in any suitable way at 27 to a transverse plate 28, connecting the upper edges of the side members 23 of the ore-concentrating bed or table 24 a suitable distance from the rear ward end of the latter. The rearward portions of the side members 23 of the bed or table are also provided with posts 22, corresponding with the posts 22, to which are pivoted the lower ends of links 22 the upper ends of which are pivoted at 22 to the inner side surfaces of the upright frame members 5. The rearward end of the concentrating bed or table is closed by attransverse member 29, while located at the forward open end of the said bed or table is a forwardly and downwardly inclined chute 30, which is fitted at the ends thereof to notches formed therefor in the under sides of the said side members 23 of the said bed or table. (See Fig. 3.) The said chute is here in represented as forming an integral part of the concentrating bed or table itself; but it is apparent that it may be made separate therefrom, and in either event it is to be noted that the vertical face 31 thereof constitutes a movable abutment for engagement or arrestment by the hereinbefore-mentioned abutment 7 at the base of the supportingframe, whereby in the reci rocatory movements of the bed or table t e ore thereon is subjected to a sudden jarring action, resulting in the separation of the ore into strata of varying gravities and conse uent richness. The bed or table 24 is forme transversely thereof a suitable distance from its forward end with a plurality of openings in which are fitted a series of short tubes 32, extending a suitable height both above and below the said bed or table, the lower ends of which tubes are securely maintained in place by means of a transverse plate 33, secured to the under side of the bed or table and having therein a plurality of openings corresponding in position to those in which the said tubes 32 are fitted, as explained.- Suspended at 34 from the parallel terminals 9 of the yoke 10 are the upper ends of movable links 35, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected at 36 with turned-up end portions 37 of a transverse plate 38, having fitted in openings therein a plurality of pendent tubes 39, the upper ends of which project above the surface of the plate 38 for a suitable distance, and the internal diameters of which are somewhat in excess of the external diameters of the said tubes 32, thus to be capable of passing downwardly over the tubes 32 by proper adjustments of the weight 18 rearwardly of the bar or plate 13, on which the same is supported.

The transverse plate 28 of the bed or table is provided at 40 with an upstanding projection which is disposed substantially centrally of the lower end portions of the parallel mem bers 25 and directly beneath the lower edge of the said pendent slotted plate 15, and supported in bearings 41 therefor secured to the inner faces of the rearward uprights 5 of the supporting-frame 2 is a rotatable shaft 42, having at one end thereof a pulley 43, which may be driven from a suitable motive power, said shaft carrying at its central portion a double cam or tappet 44 for engaging with the said upstanding projection 40 on the said transverse plate 28, connecting the sides of the bed or table. The parallel members 25 are practically spring-plates, and as the shaft 42 is rotated the opposite portions of the cam or tappet 44 will successively engage with the forward surface of the upstanding projection 40, thereby carrying the bed or table rearwardly and placing the said parallel members 25 under tension in a rearward direction. Immediately the operative portions of the cam or tappet pass the upstanding projection 40 the parallel members 25 impart to the bed or table a return movement forwardly by their reaction, and in this way a continued reciprocatory motion may be imparted to the suspended bed or table for the purpose of effecting the concentration of the ore being treated.

Secured to the rearward faces of the upright members 5 of the supporting frame is a bracket 45, which supports transversely of the apparatus a trough or other receptacle 46 for containing the ore to be concentrated, said trough being provided at intervals in the bottom thereof with holes or openings 46, through which the ore passes to the bed or table at the upper end thereof, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3.

Attention is called to the fact that the transverse plate 38 is provided near the ends thereof with guide-pins 47, working inrecesses 48 therefor in the upper surfaces of the side members 23 of the bed or table, thus to cause the plate, together with the tubes 39 therein, to be raised and lowered in such manner with respect to the tubes 32 in the bed or table as to result in no impediment of the intended operation of the two sets of tubes in effecting the proper separation of the ore on the bed.

In starting operations with the apparatus the weight 18 is adjusted rearwardly or toward the feed end of the bed or table 24, thus to elevate the bifurcated yoke 10 on its pivots 8, and thereby carry the plate 38 downwardly in such manner that the upper projecting ends of the tubes 32 will enter the lower ends of the tubes 39, thus to completely iriclose the upper ends of the said tubes 32 against the passage of any of the portions of ore therethrough, it being also understood that at the time the yoke is beingdepressed the forward end of the bed or table is being elevated. The pulverized quartz rock is then fed upon the bed or table from the trough 46 until the mineral portion has at tained the desired depth on the bottom of the bed or table, and then the said weight 18 is adjusted forwardly of its supporting bar or plate 13 until an equal balance is established etween said weight and the forward end of the bed or table. As the weight of the ore material increases at the forward end of the bed or table the latter will be tilted downwardly at such end thereof, thereby elevating the rearwardly-extended members 11 of the yoke 10, as well as the bar or plate 13 and the weight 18 thereon, this action also elevating the plate 38 and tubes 39 by means of the links 33, thereby permitting the heavy mineral portions of the pulverized quartz-rock to be carried downwardly through the tubes 32 to beneath the bed or table and saved in any suitable way during the reciprocatory motion of the bed or table 23, which motion, as before stated, separates the ore into strata of varying gravities and consequent richness.

On each forward movement of the bed or table 24 the vertical abutting face 31 of the chute 30 is brought into contact with the abutment 7 on the base of the supportingframe with such suddenness or jar as to impart shock to the bed or table, thereby causing the ore material thereon to sort itself in a manner well understood, the lighter portions or substances of the quartz or minerals being carried to the to of the mass, thence over the chute 30 at the forward end of the bed or table, and into any suitable box or trough (not shown) for any desired disposition of the same.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operation of my improved oreconcentrating apparatus will be understood without further description, and it will be seen that the same is equally adapted for the concentration of either dry or wet ores and also furnishes a convenient and effective means for safely catching any waste or escaped quicksilver or amalgam if the apparatus is employed in connection with amalgamating processes.

In the use of my improved concentrating apparatus the quartz and sand strata are effectively separated from each other continually and are not disturbed so as to be exposed to water-sluicing, as will be apparent. But little space is occupied by the apparatus, and it will be seen that the employment of screens, sizers, elevators, &c., are dispensed with, readily adapting the apparatus for use in connection with portable mills.

Having thus described my invention, I

for regulating such discharge, a supporting member for the secondanentioned tubes, and a vertically-swinging member connected with the said supporting member.

2. An ore-concentrator, comprising a.re ciprocatory bed for the ore to be separated,

tubes therethrough for the discharge of the mineral portions of the material, other tubes having movable relation with said firstnamed tubes for controlling such discharge, a supporting member for the secondmentioned tubes, and a vertically-swingingweighted member connected with the said supporting member.

3. An ore-concentrator, comprising a bed for the ore to be separated, having tubes therethrough for the discharge of the mineral portions of the material, other tubes for regulating such discharge, controlled by the weight of the ore on thebed, a supporting member for the second-mentioned tubes, a vertically-swinging weighted member, and links connecting the said weighted member withthe supporting member for the tubes.

4.. An ore-concei'itrator, comprising a bed for the ore to be separated, the said bed having openings therethrough, a series of tubes fitting in the openings for the discharge of the mineral portions of the material, and means for regulating such discharge controlled by the weight of ore on the bed, the said means comprising a second series of tubes for inclosing the upper ends of those of the first series, and a vertically-movable member for supporting and operating the said second series of tubes.

5. An ore-concentrator, comprising a bed for the ore to be separated, tubes extending through the bed for the discharge of the mineral portions of the ore, other tubes having movable relation with said first-named tubes for regulating such discharge, a supporting member for the second-mentioned tubes, a vertically-swinging weighted member connected by links with the supporting member, and links connecting the said weighted member with the bed.

6. An ore-concentrator, comprising a bed for the ore to be separated, having tubes therethrough for the discharge of the mineral portions of the pulverized quartz-rock, other tubes having movable relation with said firstnamed tubes for regulating such discharge, controlled by the weight of the ore on the bed, and a vertically-movable member for supporting the second-mentioned tubes.

7. An ore-concentrator, comprising a forwardly and downwardly inclined reciproca- &

tory bed for the ore to be separated, having tubes therethrough for the discharge of the mineral portions of the pulverized quartzrock, other tubes having movable relation with said first-named tubes, for regulating such dischar e, the same being controlled by the weight of the ore on the bed, and a vertically-movable member for supporting the second-mentioned tubes.

8. An ore-concentrator, comprising a forwardly and downwardly inclined reciprocatory bed for the ore to be separated, having tubes therethrough for the discharge of the mineral portions of the pulverized quartzrock, by gravity, other tubes having movable relation with said first-named tubes for regulating such discharge automatically, the same being controlled by the weight of the ore on the bed, a vertical swinging bifurcated yoke having a rearwardly-extending bar, a suspendingl-ink therethrough for theforward end of the bed, and an adjustable weight on said bar.

9. An ore-concentrator, comprising a forwardly and downwardly inclined reciprocatory bed for the ore to be separated, having tubes therethrough for the discharge of the mineral portions of the pulverized quartzrock, by gravity, other tubes having movable relation with said first-named tubes for regulating such discharge, automatically, controlled by the weight of the ore on the bed, a vertically-movable member for supporting the second-mentioned tubes, a verticallyswinging yoke carrying an adjustable weight, and suspending-links therefrom for the for ward end of the bed.

10. An ore-concentrator, comprising a forwardly and downwardly inclined reciprocatory bed for the ore to be separated, means therein for the discharge of the mineral portions of the pulverized quartz-rock by gravity, means for regulating such discharge automatically, controlled by the weight of the ore on the bed, the first-named means embodying a series of tubes fitted to and extending through the bed, a corresponding series of tubes for inclosing the upper ends thereof, and a vertically-movable member for supporting the second-mentioned tubes, and the last-named means embodying a vertically swinging yoke carrying an adjustable weight, and suspending-links therefrom for the forward end of the bed, said vertically-movable member being operated from said yoke.

11. A11 ore-concentrator, comprising a bed for the ore to be separated, means therein for the discharge of the mineral portions of the pulverized quartz-rock, means for regulating such discharge, controlled by the weight of the ore on the bed, said first-named means embodying a series of tubes fitted to and eX- tending through the bed a distance from the forward end thereof, a corresponding series of tubes for inclosing the upper ends of those of the first series, a guided vertically-movable supporting member therefor in and through which the tubes of the second-mentioned series are fitted, a vertically-swinging weighted yoke, and pivoted links therefrom to which the said vertically-movable supporting member is connected at the ends.

12. An ore-concentrator, comprising a supporting-frame, a downwardly and forwardly inclined bed, links pivotally supporting the rearward portion of the bed from the frame, the bed being provided at its forward end with a chute and an abutment, an abutment on the frame against which the first-named abutment strikes on the forward movement of the bed, a weighted member pivoted on the frame above the forward end of the bed, and connected at its forward end by links with the bed, means for moving the bed rearwardly, springs for imparting a return movement to the bed, the said bed being provided with means for the discharge of the heavy mineral portions of the material, and means carried by the pivoted weighted memberfor regulating such discharge.

13. An ore-concentrator comprising a frame, a bed, links pivotally supporting the rearward portion of the bed from the frame, the bed being provided at its forward end with a chute for the discharge of the lighter portions of the material, and with an abutment, an abutment on the frame and against which the first-named abutment strikes, a

pivoted member having a rear extension provided with an adjustable weight, links connecting said pivoted weighted member with the forward portion of the bed, a transverse member carried by the bed near its rearward end and having an upward projection, a rotatable shaft provided with a cam for engaging said projection, springplates secured at their upper ends to the frame and at their lower ends to the transverse member, means for supplying the ore to the bed, means for the discharge of the heavy mineral portions of the material, and means connected with said pivoted weighted member for regulating said discharge.

14. An ore-concentrator, a downwardly and forwardly inclined bed, links pivotally supporting the rearward portion thereof from members of the frame, said bed being closed at its rearward end, and provided at its open forward end with an inclined chute having a vertical face constituting an abutment, a transverse abutment against which the first-named abutment strikes in the for ward movements of the bed, a pivoted yoke having a rearwardly-extending bar provided with an adjustable weight, a plate having a vertical slot in which the free portion of said bar is guided, links pivoted to the parallel extremities of the yoke, and supporting the 10 automatically discharging the mineral portions of the pulverized quartz-rock from the lighter or Waste portions thereof by gravity.

In testimony whereofl have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE M. WHITNEY.

Witnesses CHARLES A. BELL, CHARLES F. LAWSON. 

